Amusement device



'Ap 17, 1928.v

c. ROBLES AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed July 1o, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN E TOR.

v ATTORNEYS.

Ap 17, v1928. C. ROBLES .An/mSEraEN';I DEVICE Filed July 10. 1925 v 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

- Fox'TnoT oNEsTgP S Y A-:ITOM

iPatented Apr'. 17, 1928..

5 VMEU'sizlvrEmail nmz QHARLESROBLEsrQF B iiooKLYN Appneatim medi-1115? "1,0,"1925.- sriai N9: lasse This; inventionrelates to'arnuseinent devicesyand particularlyy to those intended for use :at Carnivals, airs and aniuseinent'resortts.

be. apaarent from. the following description f ot' .onelei'nbodinient' of the "invention, fand tlie novelf` features wi'l'lloe1p'articula'rly pointed ont hereinafter?.infconneetion with they appended claims. v f

' L 'Inltlie'accompanying drawing:

Y Eigiffl lisafront elevation of a device conn Struetedfin afecordane 'with the invention; lTig.. .241s afsi'def 'elevation of the `saine ;y

Figxn is a section'al'elevation of thefliead,

`lrouiifront to rear, ofthe figure;

' f Fig. 46s afdiagram illustrating"tlier'cirouit 'comie-tions; and Y l A .I "ir is' an enlarffed `viewzof the standard aleingAvlnchlitlie.inertia element travels.'

In tylie illustrated einbodiinfent 4o'titlie'in-V vention anl'nprigilit .standard 'lis supported upon raf ibase 21 Tin suitablezinanner, liand braCIed-by" short st-rut membersg-` 3"; and guly Wires and 5.? The gig7l Wiresf'll lare vsecured Y e'aolrat one endv toanV arm 6'* Carried bythe standard intermediate' Soic itswen'ds, fandv at .Y

- tlre'irl other ends to' the bracesSi' Thegu-y vwires-"L3"are eac-li securedat one end to a bar 71carriedlibyftheglirpper en'dpo'rtion ol the f standard Il); and at :tlieirf oth'eijends- 'fare anv'-Asuitable Vfigure' characterization, snolr 'as "2 that-ot avjgrotesqueperson 9"or"ot=a living person, 'bird1 or animal; is inounted atfthe igureasfsliown 'in Eigsfl an'df2,l V"The figureV llas loosely4 fitting i clothes particularly -1 for the limbs` and, tlieieforelwhn the guy-Wires vibrate@Y the? olothedflimbs through' which they gp'assfwlill bevibiated I'late'ra'llm v'vitl'i 'the resultftliat the gure'f'will appeartosl1ake o-r sbimmywhen the standard/1 is subjected to tliisV :being increased the 'tensonsp-rings 8 in' the guy wires. The iig4- ure Yis supporte d with its; grotesquev head 10r eistend'ing over tlieupper end Of-tlie fstafndfar-d :Las slfiownin Eigsffl and 2L i 25 Thefstandard l oar'riesa is'uitablebraoke-t dev-ice #1l at its "upper :end- -for-supportingthe head aof-fthelfigure-and -alsoi desired, through itzr supporting the 'body part ,of -ft-lie suspended-fromthe bdyof thegure. The

adapte-df' to drop- 13o-'some extent to@ ,open lthe moutlito the figure. n The avvl is Carrie-diby; a

- liivotpin. 13 Wiftlija-rod lLlfeX-tending into tbe l vjmvlfonreinforcing! the same and,1 carrying adjustable oounterfWeight-153i@ a- Vp11-r;- pose L which/:Will appearislioiitlfy. The' pivot pin 13- also carriesfan v arin 16-provided `with anladgustafble balance 'We-ight'l';

"head1 palrtlpreferfbly has grotesque, feal turesand' amo'vable loivernjiaw"12=vvhich 'is 'Fire flie'ad of the fi-gore." is alsoprovidedv` and? tl'lefopenings -lSeof'itl' f simulate lthe motion off the eyelids: j-re -eaol'i eye', both. carriedv byand operated froin y Y 'Anvire 28 isoonneted atone end,x prefer` /ablyf throughv anl adjustable tni'ibuokle29, Y to f tli'ef base Q' vviminediately` --inf front offltlie stand-ard? 15 -an'dffrextends Substantially? partlievsaine intothe head 10ioiitlielgureWherefl bvfthesiinplerexp'edientfof passingthewire or inertia. element Sill i 1 s :Anf operatinlgll or1strikingleverisfoivob rectio'n will be limited.

ed at 34'upouthe base, and at one end eX- Vtends beneath the weight or inertia element 31,V so that when the opposite end of the lever 33 is depressed suddenly the weight or inertia element 31 will Abe projected upwardly, its travel upwardly being guided by the wire 28. rlhe lever is normally urged against a limited stop 35, such vas by being `overbalanced upon the arm extending beneath the weight 31,101' by a suitable spring 36 which is connected between the lever and the base; A stop abutment 37 may be provided beneath the forwardly projecting end ofthe lever 33, so that when the lever is forced downwardly itsmovement in that di Such levers are frequently operated by hitting the free end with a mallet or Sledge, which drives the weight 31 to a' considerable height.

The resistance tothe upward travel of -the weight 5B1-'may be varied to some extent by tightening or loosening the turnbuclle 29 which varies the tension of the wire 2S. rEhe `weight in traveling 'along the wire 28 will `to* vibratev the standard and thereby the greaterthe shaking efl'ect produced upon the ligure.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 8, when the yweight 31 Yenters the head 10 of the ligure, it-engages and ldrives upwardly the arm or impact element 16 which is connected to the lower jaw and the eye shutters.

The movement given the arm 16 by the inipact thereon of the weight 31 will cause a downward movement of the jaw and a closing of theeyelids of the ligure, the extent of vn'iovement of the jaw and eyelids or shutters being' dependent to some extent upon the energy of the impact of the weight Stwith the lever or impact element 16.

To prevent too strong a blow being imparted to the impact element 1G, a spring lever 38 is pivoted ati-i9 with one arm disposed within the path of the weight V31 before it strikes the impact element and against which the impact element rests when in normal position, such as shown in Fig. 3. Another arm of the lever 38 extends over a lstop pin 40, 'so that after the lever 38 is given avshort angular movement by the weight 31, it will engage with the stop pin 40 and resiliently oppose further movement of the Weight orinertia element in an upwarddirection.k By reasonof the resiliency of the lever 38, it Vacts as a silent or resilient butler for the inertia. element 31, softly .v eusnions the impact and starts the element kSi on. its return travel, However, the lever effective resistance whichit Oilers form very much like the type. employed in g automobiles as a warning signal is suitable. Such a sound producing device includes a small amplifying horn 41, tothe small-end of'which a motor operated sound producing mechanism 42 is connected.. he sound producing mechanism 42 is secured to the bracket devicell, and the amplifier horn 41 depends therefrom, with its discharge end pointing'toward themovable jaw, so that when the jaw is opened and the sound waves are emitted from the horn 41, they will passl through the open mouth of the ligure and larrying a pin 44 projecting from an inte# rior point of one face thereof, and engaging with teeth 45'0f a rotary disc 46 which is driven by an electric motor 4.7 preferably of the series motor type, the motor being siuiplied with current from a suitable source, such as a battery 48 and controlled by a resistance element 49.

In ther circuit which is vshown diagranr matically -in Fig. 4, the current from the battery passes through the motor 47, thence by wire 50 to the pivot pin 13 of th-e lower jaw of the figure, thence through the arm 16 to a brush 51 which is Slidingly received in the free'end of the arm 16 and-constantly pressed outwardly byV a spring 52. l rlhe brush 51, which is normally under stress from the spring 52, bears'against a block 53 ot insulating material, inv a portion of the surface of which is embedded turns of the resistance element 49, so 'that' as the arm 16 -f i swings upwardly after the impact from the inertia element 31, the brush' will lirst engage with the resistance element 49V and then move along the same and decrease the in the `circuit. rIhe upper end of the resistance elcment 49 is connected by a wire 54 to the battery, which completes the circuit. Thus, whenthe lower aw drops, the circuit to the sound producing device will be closed and a sound will be created concomitantly with the opening of the mouth of the ligure.

'In order to indicate, and enable onel to measure for the purpose of comparison, the different heights to -which the inertia element 3lv may be projected 'when' itdoes'not reach. the top et the standard and enter tlie :head Of' ,the figure, thefllforivardsface-ofthe 'standard l may be divided ofr Agraduated into' sections,55,ja section of thestandard Y ivthlsucli divisions being'shown on a larger L clelices...V Y e il the operation ofthe particular illustra-ted .embodiment ofthe invention, the

f seale inEig. Eachdivision ipreterably carries. the naine Y of a popul .danceV Aand figures'j iepresenting peculiar increments or poses; chai'acterist-infaiidvA suggeftive otsu'ch player forces the free end'oi the leverf suddenly downwardly, such *as eithery by strikingfthesaine ivithtliehands'or by va sledgeor hammer as hard or' asquickly as possible-so as to proJect the inertia element '-3,1 lupwardly along the'guide yWire '28'. thegv, inertia element isprOj-e'Cted with suficient Venergyeto 'enter the head 10 oiifthe figure, it will iinpactivith the element 16 thereof andcaus'e a droppingof the lower j avv of the figure, a, 'closing ot' the eyelid Vshutters, andat the same timega' closing ot' the circuiti to the sound, producing device;

; The pitch ofthe soundproducingdevice maybe so chosen that the sound en'fitted'is c Veryinuh like afdeep Vgroainanld this' groan will increase `in-Apitcli as ,the brush 51 movesi up; the Yrlieostatv or 'resistanc-efelement and .increases the'curient to the'mot-or 'propelling `the sound producing device. then immediately decrease as -the brush The pitch Will moves -downthe rlie'o'stat or resistance elel vnient during the return of 'the jaw to closed position,r ywhichV immediately, follows the opening movement owing tothe fact that A tlile'weights l54 and 17 'are soposi'tioned that thev normally ^moves into cloed position,

` In .this manner, va very realistic groaning soundmay be produced,simultaneously with v the opening of the mouth of the tigureand fa closing of the eyes, which is suggestive of agony of the iigurerfollowing the entry 'therein of. the inertia elei'nen'u 1 l/Vhenfthe lower jayvg returns from* the drop' position, shown in dotted linejin Fig. 3, to vthe fullt line *positionVVV also f shown jinY the saine igure,the.spring pressed brush will ride off` the resistance eleinentlll), interrupt tlie circuit V'to the soundy i producing'"n'iotor, yand stop' the 'eniission'lof soundwhen the JaW has returned to normal closed: position".

A When tlieweight doesnotj go high' .enough to `enterythehead of the ig`urc,'its highest Vp'o'sitiovi'il may b'enot-ed Aiontlie divisions-55 which may be, used :toi-'the' purposefof coni- 'lallig thefrelative `skill or strengthl 'of dit'-v ierent players. As the' VWeight''travels` aloli the- Wire 28,* it will cau'se a shaking or shimmyingof the figure, which` 'eiect is variable to some extentbya tightening` or iooseningof the turnbuckle 29;' Such an amusement deviceiis not onlyfamusing to'the participants,` but'V also vto onlookers; and when used at Carnivals and' tliellike, it wilf atdri'i'en sound producin device, .a

flt; Wil1 be obvious that ,the (illustrated Sfr-@Mire is merely) Q11@- @Xawiiefin vlll? the invention may be enibod iedjaiid that various. changes vrin. the details; fwliicli' l are been li ereinfdescijibed`andy illustrated tori Q t purpose oij explaining .the natureot the inf vention,v maybe made. by` those skilled" inf' i the rart'within the principle and sc opeeif tlgieinvention vas expressed in the appended.l

claims. y f .I'claiin:-' 'y l; In anamusenjieiit device, an element to be projected bythe player infone direction, af Afigure, ,characterization having a` niovable l part, iijiovable impact ineens vwithin* the pathvo'f and operated:bysaid in;- ertiar element operable lupony the. movable part `for transmitting its movementthereof,

a1inotor`operated sound producing; device, a circuit for "said device includ-ing therein a Vresistance element controllingtlie operativeness of said f device,A and 1 means yoperated concomitantly 1 with movement l,of the` movso Y Y sound producing device through ltlieresistanceeleinent, with a. decrease of .resistance vas the initial'movementproceeds,l and an f 'increase fin the vresistaiice during' Ythe rreturn pitch `ofthe `sound produc'ingdevice may created during its operation.;

In anainusjement. device, an iivieit-ia'ele3 mentl to` be projected bytheplayer in one yd ireetiom aigureY characterization .havinmza f `movable part, lmovable impact means With-A in the pathof` saidinertia element for transinitting` its movement tothe movable part, a'

away froinfnormal position by said ,inertia Velenient.A y .1 i f In ananilusciiient device,

which its expression may be v aiied, ,ain'otor a figure char- `acteiization havingI a movable feature' by AD5 movement of the part',ivl iereby a change in Awe uoon vthe skillet av @la ei-tor cansino' iiiove i iiieiit'of said ieature,and ineansactin'g upon thev 'controllingcircuit` for cai'ising operation Vof the 'sound producing deviceupon move-M ment of said;4 feature away troni normal, po-v sition, said controlling,circuit,including` a 'controllin 9; f rheostat, operable concomitantly with the feature, Whose .resistance varies in fone; manner as'tlierfeature moves ii,oiii,

normal position andvariesin a reverse'nian! fnertvhile movin'gltoivard normal position, fvi'hereby :af variation in' pitcher i said sound -preducing` device ivill'foccury duringfthe iiiovemli-tofSaid teatiireand-by en amount lli proportionate to the extent of movement of said feature.'

4; Inlan amusement device, a motor driven sound producing mechanism having a pitch dependingupon its rate ot' operation, a circuit `controlling said mechanism, a rheostat controllingv the rate of operation ot" said mechanism, and means including a game device operable by a playerI to Close said circuit and operate said rheostat to initiate an yoperation of said sound producing mechaard receives its vibratory impulses the tig-l ure will shake in the portions through which the guy members pass, and means for impartingvibratory movement to saidv standard.

6. In an amusement device, an upright vibratory standard, a figure characterization supported by said standard adjacent' its upper part, a plurality` ot approximately taut flexible guy members connected vat one end to the upper part ot said standard passing through portions ot' the ligure, and anchored at their other ends, said guy members including springs therein, whereby when the standard receives its vibratory impulses the ligure Will shake in the portions through which the guy members pass, and means tor imparting vibratory movement to said standard. A

7. In an amusement device, an upright vibratory standard, a tigure characterization supported at the upper' part ot `the standard and having a movable part which When moved changes the expression ot the ligure, a guide extending along the standard to the movable part ot said ligure, means including an inertia element projectable along the guide and operable upon said part to cause a movement thereoll when projected along the iull length ot' the guide, and substantially taut guy Wires for said rstandard connected at one end thereto and anchored at their other ends, said wires passing through portions of said ligure for causing a vibratory movement ot said portions ,When the standard is vibrated by the travel ofthe inertia element along the guide. y

8. In an amusement device, an upright vibratory standard, a figure characterization supported at the upper part of the standard and having a movable part which when moved changes the expression of saidligure, a guide extending alono the standard to the movable parto'li said igure, means including an inertia element projectable along the guide and operablevupon said ligure to cause a movement of said part when projected along the full length ot' the guide, and'tension'ed uy Wires tor said standard connected at vone end thereto land yanchored at their other ends, said Wires passing through portions o said ligure for. causing a vibratory movement of saidportions When the standard is vibrated by the travel of the inertia element along the guide,l said guy wires having tension springs included therein tov increase their tendency to vibrate.

9. In an amusement device, an upright standard, a ligure characterization supported with its head at the upper` part of said standard, said head part includ-ing a lixed part and a feature movable relative thereto, a guide exten-ding along the standard,l an inertia element for travel along said guide, the movable feature of saidftigure having an arm projecting into the path ot and operable by said inertia elementY when the latter has traveled the Whole height of the standard, and means' operableby a player.

for impelling the inertia element, along the guide. j

'10. In an amusement device, an upright vibratory standard, a gurecharacterization.

for impelling the inertia element along 'the' guide, and taut guy wires supporting said standard and passing through limbs of said ligure and imparting vibrations to said limbs when said inertia elementis propelled along the guide. Y

ll.. In an amusement device, lan upright vibratory standard, a ligure characterization supported `with its headl at the upper part oit' said standard, said head part having a movable `feature, a guide extending along the standard, an inertia element for travel along said guide, the movable feature ofsaid ligure being operable by said inertia element when 'the latter has' traveled the Whole height ot the standard, means operable by a player for impelling the inertia element along the guide, and tensionedv guy .Wires supporting said standard and passing through limbs o'lE said ligure and imparting vibrations to said limbs when said 'inertia element is propelled along lthe guide, said"` n ze - pgrbited byf a player and means..f9r, avid? ing said' inertial elementi to engagea-said arfrn and inc ve it Sand 'said -j aW to4v Open position te en sald" ar mida member faigdfiintbfaids'liead; and;

( -fthesfahla han movableportons, a guide enbending' along tsj upper Vpalt Sand ing-'"lro'vable petitions, aug-mide extending?-y along the standard and ntom'th'eheaof the" ment-fof said head" portions t @Trax-ggf@ the ape Within the head aetuated'hygsaid-'inertia `:eleL

a 'movement fof Sail 'hed pcvrtonsvY resulting Vtochange?13he'appearance ofthe-headfoffthe nected at oneendito theppjerfpartfofthe 4stkandaird fand anchQl-edahtheir Othe'iends,-

entering within the head for eiiecting a lmovement of said head portions resulting in a change in the external part of the face to change the appearance of the head of the figure, and means connectedwith the limbs of the figure for causing vibratory movementsr thereof when the inertia element travels along, the standard.

Y 2l. In an amusement' device, a figure havg ing a grotesque head witha' movablefeature, van arm for operating. said feature intoA said inertia element.'

22. In an amusement device, a grotesque iigure having a movable feature, an arm con 4nected to and operatingsaid feature into "a different condition, a sound producing de- Y vice, a circuit for said device, and switch means controlled by said arm for closing the circuit to said sound producing device when said arm moves the. feature into a Adifl'erent condition. x u v f Y 23; In an amusement device, a grotesque figure having a movable feature, an arm con nected to and operating said feature intoa diiferent condition, a sound producing device,ea circuit for said device, and switch means controlled by said arm for closing the circuit to said sound producingY device when said arm moves the vfeature into adifferent condition, said switch device; including a rheostat for varying, the Vcurrent to said sound producing devicel andthereby the pitch of the sound produced in accordance with the extent of movement of said feature from normal position. f I y Y `24e. In an amusement device, a grotesque ligure having a movable feature, an arm connected to and operating said feature into a different conditioina sound producing device, acircuit for said device, switch means controlled by said arm for closingA the circuit toV said sound producing device when said arm moves the feature .into a diiferent condition, said switch device including a variable resistancefor varying the currentto saidsound Vproducing device and thereby the pitch of the sound'produced in accordance with the extent ofmovement of said feature fromnormalposition, and means constantly urging saidV feature into normal position where the Vsound producingdevice will be silent.'

25,. In an amusement device, an upright standard, a figure supported bythe standard at its upper part with the headof the ligure extending over the upper end of the standard, said head'having an opening in its bottom portion into which the-standard extends and having a movable jaw, av guide extending along said standard and into the headl of t-he ligure, an inertia member guided along the standard by said guide member Vand into said head, said jaw having an operating exten-v sion within'the head and disposed Within the path of said inertia memberfas thevlatter Y moves into the head along saidguidevme/m-r ber, whereby said inertia member vwillopi standard, a grotesque head supported at the upper end of the standard,an inertia ele-` ment, means for guiding said inertia element along the'standard and into said head, said head having a movable feature, means inchiding an armv engageable, by saidfinertia element as it enters said head for moving said feature, a contact brush carried by said arm, a resistance element int-ofengagement' with and over whichsaid brush passes when moved by saidl inertia element, an electrically operated sound producing device, and a conkau trolling circuit for said device including conu ductors connectedfto said Varm 4and the'end of the resistance element toward which the ico brush moves under the direct action ofthe inertia element, whereby the circuit to said device will be completed by the brush and resistance andthe resistance of the circuit decreased by the continued movement of the arm in the direction imparted by the engagement therewith of thee inertia element.

28. In an amusement device, a figure,a guide element extending intosaid figure, an inertia element guided along usaid element into saidrfigure, a pivoted armrwithinsaid ligure and disposed in the path of said inertia element to be rocked upon impactV of the element thereagainst, a Contact brush carried by said arm. a resistance elementinto contact with which andover which said brush moves when said arm is impelled by said inertia element, an electrically operated sound producing device, and an operating circuit for said device including circuit conductors connected to said'brush. and to that end of the resistance .element toward which the biusli moves under direct impulsion from the.

inert-ia element, said arm being biased to a position which isout of Contact withvthe re'- sistanceelement and within the pathA of said inertia element.

29. In an amusement device, a figure, an

vinertia element, means for guiding said inertia element into said figure, a vibratory eleio the head for operating saidv rheostat to com- .1,ce e,219 i f ment., a notched device engageable with saidY plete the controlling,` circuit and varyV the f vibratoryl element for causing Vibrations.. current Vpassing therethrough, 'saidjin'eans thereof, electric means for operating said being biased to the positionin which the cir- V notched element, including a controlling circuit through said rheostatfs open, whereby l concluding the same and Varying the current a' sound'will be'prod'uced' by saidvibratoryv passing therethrough, means Within said hgelement,

cuit7 `a rheostat included in said circuit for When the inertia element entersv said ligure 15;

ure in a' position to be engaged and operated. v In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe y 'by said inertia element as theflatter enters mysignature.

.CHARLES ROBLES. 

